Breech mechanism



Nov. 28, 1939.

M. M. JOHNSON. JR

BREECH MECHANISM Fild Feb. l1, 1938 @ni-m.

razi- @c Patented Nov. 1939 BREECH MECHANISM Melvin M Johnson, Jr.,

Brookline, Mass., assignor to Melvin M, Johnson, Brookline, Mass.. Edward E. Rice, Boston, Mass., and himself, as

trustees of Johnson Patent Trust lApplicatie!! February 11, 1938, Serial N o. 190,009

8 Claims.

This invention relates to firearms of the type having an operating handle projecting from the bolt or from other breech mechanism for manually opening the breech by retracting the bolt through the medium of the handle, objects of the invention being to provide a construction which is simple and economical to manufacture, which is reliable and durable in use, which facilitates assembly and disassembly of the parts, which requires no tools for assembly and disassembly, which permits replacement of a damaged extractor without removing the bolt from the receiver and which is generally superior to prior constructions for the purpose.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a side view;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a front end view.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown for the purpose 0f illustration comprises a bolt I similar to that shown in my application Serial No. 183,469 filed January 5, 1938, the bolt having at its forward end an annular row of locking abutments 2 for interlocking the bolt with corresponding abutments on the barrel after the bolt has been advanced to forward position. As in the pending application the bolt is also provided on top with an integral projection 3 having cam surfaces s and`5 for rotating the bolt into and out of locked position. In a, recess in the forward end of the projection 3 a roller 6 is mounted on a pin l to reduce friction between the bolt and the receiver during the opening and closing movements of the bolt. The bolt is provided with a ring pin opening 8 at the center and with an ejector groove 9 at the left-hand side.

According to this invention the bolt is provided on the right-hand side of its forward end with a longitudinal dove-tail groove II extending rearwardly from the shoulder I2 to the point I3, the groove having overhanging shoulders I d characteristic of dove-tail grooves. Mounted in the bottom of this groove is an extractor I5 having an extracting claw IG, a lug I'I seating in a recess in the bolt and an opening I8 to receive the locking plunger hereinafter referred to.

As shown in the drawing the aforesaid operating handle is in the form of a knob I 9 which is circular in cross-section and which has a recess 2B in its outer end. The inner end 2| of the handle is in the form of a shank of reduced width and approximately rectangular cross-section. The inner end of the shank 2I is provided with lateral iianges 22 adapted to slide under the overhanging shoulders I4 oi' the bolt from the for- 5 ward end of the recess II. Extending through an axial bore in the handle is a plunger 23 adapted to extend through the opening I8 in the extractor I5 thence intoa socket 24 in the bolt. The plunger 23 is provided with an integral ange 10 25 engaged by a compression spring 26 disposed in the recess 20 between the flange 25 and a nut 21 threaded into the enlarged'outer end of the recess with an annular iiange 28 seating on the shoulder 2s. The cuter end of une` pIunger 231s 15 provided with an annular recess 30 for engagement by the ngernails or a suitable tool for the purpose of retracting the plunger enough to ermit the handle to be slipped forwardly out the recess II. After the handle has thus been re- 20 moved the extractor may be lifted radially of the bolt from the recess.

As shown in Fig. V2 the extractor, which is formed of resilient material, bows outwardly from end to end, being more or less straightenedwhen 25 the handle is pressed into place. This spring action not only takes up all lost motion between the handle and bolt but also holds the forward end of the extractor snugly against the bolt.

According to the present invention the handle 30 and extractor may be removed from the bolt through the ejection opening without removing the bolt from the receiver, thereby permitting quick and facile replacement of a damaged extractor.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall Within the scope of the appended claims. o

I claim:

1. In a firearm the combination of a bolt, an extractor extending along the side and overhanging the forward endof the bolt, an operating handle for manually moving the bolt, and a plunger extending through both the handle and the extractor and thence into a recess in the bolt for interlocking the parts together.

2. In a firearm a bolt having an extractor recess, an extractor in the recess, an operating handle mounted in the same recess over a portion of the extractor, and a single detent extending from the handle through the extractor for conjointly holding both the extractor and the handle in the recess.

ln a firearm a bolt having an extractor re= cess, an extractor in the recess, an operating handle mounted in the same recess, 'and a plunger extending through both the handle and the extractor and thence into the bolt lor interlocking the parts together.

4. In a rearm a bolt having a recess with an overhanging shoulder, an extractor in the recess, an operating handle sldable into 'said recess under said shoulder, and means for conjointly holding both the extractor and the handle in the recess.

5. ln a rearm a bolt having a dovetail recess, an extractor in the recess, a dovetail operating handle sliding into said recess over the extractor, and a plunger extending through the handle and the extractor into the bolt for interlocking the parts together.

6. En a firearm a bolt having a dovetail recess, an extractor in the recess, a dcvetail operating handle sliding into said recess over the extractor, a plunger extending through the handle and the atentar extractor into the bolt for interlocking the parts together, and a spring in the handle for holding said plunger in engagement with the bolt.

7. 1n a. rearm a bolt having a dovetail groove. an extractor in the groove, a dovetail operating handle sliding into said groove over the extractor, a plunger extending through the handle and the extractor into the bolt, the handle having a recess in its outer end, and a spring in the handle forcing the plunger inwardly, the plunger having a head in said recess for retracting the plunger against the action of said spring.

B. In a firearm a bolt having an extractor recess with an overhanging shoulder, an extractor in the recess, an operating handle tted into the same recess under said shoulder and over the rear end of the extractor to hold said end in fixed position in the recess, and means for holding the handle in xed position under said shoulder and over the extractor.

XVI. JUHNSGN, JR. 

